Boiler-tube sucker and soot ejector



Dec. 11, 1923. 1,477,118

J. H. GOODFELLOW BOILER TUBE SUCKER AND SOOT EJECTOR Original Filed Oct. '7, 1919 I z /q"" I all Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

JOHN H. GOODFELLOW, or BUrrALd'nEw YORK.

BOILER TUBE SUCKEE AND SO01 EJ'ECTOR.

Application filed October 7, 1919, Serial No.'3 2 9,041.. Renewed July 25, 1923. i

Z "0 aZZ iU/IONL it may concern b Be it'known that'I, JOHN H. Goonrnrrow, a citizen of the United States. and resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Tube Suckers and Soot Ejectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boiler flue suckers and soot ejectors, particularly that kind adapted for causing a suction within the flue while forcibly ejecting the dirt and soot from one end thereof.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a flue cleaner having a re-direct nozzle for forcibly emitting jets of compressed air or steam within the tube to be cleaned, in a direction contrary to the flow ot' the cleaning fluid to the said nozzle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method of cleaning flues. whereby there is created a vacuous condition at one cud of the tube to'suck in air, and a forcibly ejected flow of air with the cleaning fluid from the opposite end of the flue.

Another object of this invention is to provide an elbow extension to the end of the flue to be cleaned, at the ejection end, whereby the ejected soot and ashes may be carried by a tubular connection to a stack, as it is ejected.

. A further object is to provide in such an elbow a self-sealing connection where the same is attached to the flue.

Another object is to provide with such a self-sealing elbow a renewal part at the outer portion ofthe elbow where the same receives the abrasion from the-ejected material passing through it, so that such an elbow may be repaired by renewing such wearable part.

A further object is to provide with such elbow tubular connections for passing the cleaning fluid therethrough to a redirect nozzle positioned within the flue.

lVith these and other objects in view, one embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the drawings, its construction is described,

its operation is explained, and what I claim is set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a form of my invention applied to a boiler tube, and is partly shown insection. i Figure ,2 I is a longitudinal sectionalview of the valve, the handle being omitted;

i Figure Sis a front view of the nozzle.

Figure 4 is a' plan viewot the rear. wall repair plate of said nozzle showing the iriside thereof.

, Figure 5 is a top plan of the re-direct nozzle.

" Figure 6 is an end view of the re-direot nozzle. In the figures, the improved formof elbow 1, is provided with a cylindricalfl'ange 2,

within which is fitted a ring 3, having. an

external flange 4:. The flange 61 has an annular recess 5, formed to fit over the beaded end of a boiler flue. 6, There is provided an annular extension 7,v adapted to fit within the cylindrical end of the boiler flue 6. Extendinginto the flue 6,.integral with the annular eXtensionZ-are the. fingers 8,-which are incontact with the inner wall or" the 'flueG and assistin supporting, the el bow in engagement therewith. Upstanding tromthe lower of the fingers 8, is the dividing fin 8. A tubular boss 9-projects within the ring 3 and is'in threaded engagement with the. pipes 10 and 11, forming a continuous 'passage with saidv pipes}: The opposite end of the: pipe 11 is in threaded engagement withythe body ofsthe re-direct an'outlet lel, directed parall-elto the axis 1.

of the :pipe 11.. .The body of the re-direct nozzle 12,- has anextension 15, inwhich is fixed thepivotal bolt 16, having journaled thereon the roller 17, in contact with the wall of the flue ,6. r 7

Considering the elbow. 1, the same has a renewable curved wall 1 8, upon which is provided a tongue 19. fitting within a. lip 20, the upper end of the wall 18 being held in place by the bolt 21. There areprovided side lips 22. to the .wall 18, which engage and lap over the outside ot. .the-body o-f the elbow 1. The pipe 10 passes through a-hollow boss 23, onthe wall ls and extends beyond the same into threadedengagement with a socket 24, there being provided a washer 25 between the boss 23.,and the.;.socket 24. Directly below and in contact with the-pipe 10, is a cleaving projection 26 to thewall 18,

which .servesto divide the. fluid currents r passing throughthe elbow on eachside-- of the pipe 10. The elbow 1 issecuredat the bottom of its lowerend to the ring '3 by means of the bolt 27. Y

. I sometimes make the elbow. 1;

sizes for small fines, having the. elbow cast in one place, and thereby avoid the cornpli cation of construction shown in Figure 1, by not having the wall 18 renewable, yet making the outer curved wall extra thick to take the wear from the grit which is thrown against this wall.

If desired, a plurality of such devices as herein shown and described, may be provided whereby several flues can be cleaned at the same time.

Considering now the supply conduits connected with the pipe 10, there is shown an angular connection 28, in threaded engagement with a short piece of pipe 29, which in turn is threaded into the socket 24. The angular connection 28 has a tubular branch 30, to which is attached a supply pipe 31, having a quickly operable valve 32. A handle 33, fitting into the branch 3a, is provided for easy manipulation of the device.

In operation, assume that the device is in place as shown in Figure 1, engaging the flue 6, with the nozzle 12 positioned between the ends thereof, and that the outer end of the elbow 1 has tubular connection with a chimney or other place where the soot and dirt about to come from the flue is discharged. Assume also that the pipe 31 is connected with a source of steam or other cleaning fluid supply under pressure. The valve 32 is then opened and the cleaning fluid proceeds through the tubular connections to the nozzle 12 and is forcibly ejected at the outlet 1e and directed back to the elbow 1, through the ring 3. Upon striking the fin 8 the current of cleaning fluid laden with soot and dirt, is divided and this division is further maintained by the projection 26 where its course is bent by the curved wall 18 of the elbow 1. The divided portions of the current pass on either side of the pipe 10 and out of the elbow 1 into the connections, which continue to carrythe currents to the place for depositing the removed soot and dirt. The currents produced between the nozzle 12 and the elbow 1, induce a suctional current from the opposite end of the flue 6, toward the nozzle 12, upon reaching which, they are divided by the pointed formation of the end of the nozzle 12 and continue on. These currents, suctionally induced, are picked up by the forceful current, flowing from the opening 14: ofthe nozzle 12 and mingle with the remainder of the forced currents.

It is evident that the blast of currents thus formed against the curved wall 18, of the elbow 1. laden as they are with abrasive soot, rust and dirt, will wear upon this wall 18, and for that reason I make the same renewable and of a harder material than the body of the elbow. And for the same rea son I make the connections, which must be separable on account of the necessity of renewing this"part, easily separable. If the operator desires to use the device as a direct blowing apparatus he can easily convert the same by removing the re-direct nozzle 12 and blowing through the end of the pipe 10, to which a direct nozzle can be attached if desired.

Inasmuch as changes in the details of construction of the one embodiment of my invention here shown and described can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, I do not wish to be confined to the one embodiment. Hence I claim:

1. In mechanism for cleaning a flue, the combination of an elbow, a ring carried by said elbow and having an external flange adapted to engage the end of said flue, a supply pipe carried by said elbow and ring, and a re-direct nozzle at the inner end of said pipe.

2. In mechanism for cleaning a flue the combination of an elbow, a ring carried by said elbow and having an external flange adapted to engage the end of said flue, a supply pipe carried by said elbow and ring. and means on said nozzle arranged to bear against the inner wall of said flue and support the inner end of said supply pipe.

3. In mechanism for cleaning a flue, the combination of an elbow, a ring carried by said elbow and having an external flange adapted to engage the end of said flue, a fin upstanding in said ring, a supply pipe carried by said elbow and ring, and a nozzle at the inner end of said pipe.

4. In mechanism for cleaning a flue, the combination of an elbow, a ring carried by said elbow and having an external flange adapted to engage the end of said flue, and an annular extension adapted to fit within the end of said flue, a fin upstanding within said annular extension, a supply pipe carried by said elbow and ring, and a nozzle at the inner end of said pipe.

5. In mechanism for cleaning a flue, the combination of a ring having an annular extension, a dividing fin in said extension, a supply pipe through said ring, a re-direct nozzle on said pipe within said flue and an Extension from said nozzle in line. with said 6. In mechanism for cleaning a flue, the combination of an elbow, a ring carried by said elbow and having an external flange and an annular extension, a dividing fin in said extension, a supply pipe through said ring, a re-direct nozzle on said pipe within said flue, an extension from said nozzleand a cleaving projection on said elbow, said nozzle extension, dividing fin and cleaving projection cooperating to divide the currents set up in said flue.

7. A flue cleaner comprising a supporting elbow, a removable section forming the outer curve of said elbow, a ring fixed to said elbow having a formation adapted to fit within a flue to be cleaned and forming a supporting connection with said flue, a supply conduit passing through said elbow, a nozzle device adapted to be positioned within said flue having connection with said conduit, regulating means on said conduit for regulating the supply of cleaning fluid passing through said conduit and said nozzle, and tubular means for directing the discharge of the cleaning fluid at an angle away from said flue.

8. In mechanism for cleaning a boiler tube, a nozzle having parallel inlet and outlet ports at the same end, and a cleaving edge at the opposite end to divide'the current of soot set up by the action of said nozzle.

9. In mechanism for cleaning a boiler tube, a pipe adjacent one side of the tube, a redirect nozzle carriedby said pipe, said nozzle having an outlet at the center of the tube, and a cleaving edge at its inner end, a cleaving extension from said nozzle and a roller on said extension for supporting said nozzle.

10. In mechanism for cleaning a boiler tube. an elbow adapted to be mounted on the end of the tube, for guiding the ejected material away from the operator, a plate in said elbow and a pipe supported by said plate, said plate having a thickened portion below said pipe to cleave the flow of ejected material and prevent its direct contact with said pipe.

11. In mechanism for cleaning a boiler tube, a pipe, a redirect nozzle supplied by said pipe, and having a single outlet and means removably fixed at the end of said tube for supporting said pipe adjacent the side of the tube and said nozzle at the center of the tube. 1

12. In mechanism for cleaning a boiler tube, a pipe located adjacent the side of the tube, a redirect nozzle supplied by said pipe,

having a single outlet at the center of the tube, a roller on the underside of said nozzle, and means removably fixed at the end of said tube, said means and roller coacting to support said pipe and nozzle in operative position.

13. Mechanism for cleaning .boiler tubes comprising an elbow adapted to be fixed on one end of the tube to be cleaned and a nozzle carried by said elbow and adapted to project into said tube when said elbow is in position.

14. Mechanism for cleaning boiler tubes comprising an elbow, a ring removably fixed in one end of said elbow and having a flange to engage the mouth of the tube to be cleaned, a. line of pipe carried by said elbow and said'ring, a nozzle at the end of said pipe, a roller on said nozzle, a supply pipe carried by said elbow, a quickly operable valve in said supply pipe and a handle, said elements forming a unitary structure, the pipe and nozzle of which is introduced into the tube to be cleaned until the flange on said ring engages the mouth of said tube.

15. Mechanism for cleaning boiler tubes, comprising an elbow, a flange ring removably mounted at one end of said elbow, a section of pipe carried by said ring and said elbow, a second section of pipe carried by said ring in line with said first section, a nozzle on said second section, a roller car ried by said nozzle to support said nozzle and the inner end of said second section by pipe, a supply pipe carried by said elbow in line with said first section, a quickly operable valve in said supply pipe and ahandle on said supply pipe.

Signed at Buflalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, this 24th day of September, A. D. 1919.

JOHN H. GOODFELLOW. Witnesses: V

' GORDON L. SNYDER,

WILMER W. SNYDER. 

